Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Hit the Road, Face Michigan State in East Lansing
10/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 1, 2007
NU Football Game Notes (vs. Michigan State)
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- After turning in a valiant effort this past Saturday against preseason Big Ten favorite Michigan, Northwestern hits the road this week for its second away league game. Kickoff is set for 11:07 a.m. CT at Spartan Stadium. The Big Ten Network is televising the game to a national audience.
Northwestern held the lead for much of Saturday's game against the Wolverines, but four turnovers in the final quarter were too much for the 'Cats to overcome as they fell to Michigan 28-16. The loss dropped the Wildcats' overall record to 2-3, and 0-2 in the Big Ten.
Michigan State, under the leadership of first-year head coach Mark Dantonio, opened its Big Ten season last Saturday at Wisconsin and lost a shootout, 37-34. The two teams combined for 1,025 total yards with the Spartans gaining a game-best 564 yards. After Wisconsin had gone ahead 37-34 on a 22-yard field goal with 6:15 remaining, MSU had two more chances to tie or take the lead. A missed 53-yard field goal and an incomplete fourth-down pass play, however, prevented the Spartans from maintaining an unblemished season record.
Michigan State opened the year with four straight nonconference victories, starting with a 55-18 win over UAB. The Spartans then defeated Bowling Green (28-17) and Pittsburgh (17-13) before handing Notre Dame a 31-14 setback in South Bend.
The Spartans have been excelling in all three phases of the game this year, ranking in the nation's top 50 for 14 major team statistical categories (out of 17). MSU ranks 27th nationally in total offense (446.0 ypg), 25th in total defense (304.8 ypg), 35th in scoring offense (33.0 ppg) and 35th in scoring defense (19.8 ppg). Michigan State also ranks 20th nationally in rushing offense (208.8 ypg), 13th in kickoff returns (26.3 ypr) and second in sacks (4.6 pg).
MSU's running game is being powered by Javon Ringer (108.8 ypg, 6.0 ypc, 1 TD) and Jehuu Caulcrick (74.6 ypg, 4.5 ypc, 8 TD's). They have accounted for nearly 88 percent of the Spartans' rushing attack. Junior quarterback Brian Hoyer is averaging 218.4 passing yards per game and has tossed nine TD's against just three interceptions. He is completing 58.2 percent of his pass attempts. Devin Thomas leads all MSU receivers with 20 receptions for 481 yards (24.0 ypr) and 4 TD's.
Defensively, the Spartans have recorded 49 tackles for loss in just five games, with 23 of those 49 TFL's being pass sacks. Defensive Jonal Saint-Dic, who was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Pittsburgh, has a team-best nine TFL's and seven sacks. Cornerback Kendall Davis-Clark and safety Travis Key are MSU's leading tacklers with 32 and 28 hits, respectively.
The Broadcasts
Radio -- WGN (720 AM) is carrying the game live. The radio broadcast also can be heard via the internet at wgnradio.com. The broadcast begins at 10:30 a.m. Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3), NU's student radio station, also will carry the game live. The contest is also available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Channels 196-199).
Television -- The Big Ten Network is televising the game to a national audience. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst) and Charissa Thompson (sideline) call the action.
(For a complete set of game notes, download the PDF above.)
